We’re pleased to feature Johnny Williams this month, detailing his inspiring story of using Pilates to gain strength and stability after back surgery. In his own words:
My name is Johnny Williams. Back story. I ski patrolled for 16 years and relied heavily on my BIG muscle groups to tackle all the hills. I also have been working in the Westside mountains searching for fish in small, mainstem tributaries for the last 14 years. Along the way, I was never really concerned with what my small muscle groups were doing. Because of this, I relied on big muscle groups and became all too comfortable with poor posture and random physical therapy visits to combat back pain and other injuries along the way.
In April 2023, I had a disc that finally bulged out to the point where my right leg was paralyzed from the waist down. I had surgery in June 2023. I chose to not “get fused” but instead opted for a surgery where they actually insert a “blockade” in between the vertebrae and secure the disc back into place. Well, long story short, the surgery went well but I was going to require a bunch of rehab to heal.
With back surgery, there is always a rehab factor of which mine took a little longer than most. In the early part of this year, I started seeing a woman named Nancy Bywater-Johnson. Nothing but great things to say about her! Nancy got me to a point where I was moving a lot better and helped retrain my brain to understand that I didn’t have to live with pain. Thank you Nancy. Very, very much!
After my therapy with Nancy was over, I asked her who I could see to get me moving even more. She thankfully suggested that I go to see Hali Fiano and her crew at Awake Bodies.
A new journey had begun!! The journey of stability….
I started seeing Hali in mid-May of this year. I was still experiencing some pain and was wondering how to get rid of it. One of the many takeaways from working with Hali and her crew is that I need to “turn OFF the big muscle groups to strengthen the small muscle groups”. The small muscle groups being those along my surgical area and along my spine. I can hear Hali even now saying “are you clinching Johnny?”
After a few visits with Hali and much progress made, I was asked if I wanted to start seeing one of Hali’s instructors by the name of Kelsey Howe. I was apprehensive at first because I was so comfortable with Hali’s knowledge and the progress I was making. I agreed to see Kelsey. I couldn’t be happier that I did! Kelsey has been impressive to say the least. Her knowledge base was apparent from the start and was a chip off the ole Hali block. Kelsey is thoughtful and not only invested in her work as a Pilates instructor but the client as well. She challenged me to do more but to also keep in mind that at times less is more when it comes to healing small muscle groups. Kelsey is patient and also not afraid to challenge the client. Thank you Kelsey!! You kick butt!
Currently, I am seeing Hali for Oov class in Leavenworth on Mondays and I see Kelsey once a week in Cashmere. I love the class and always walk away refreshed and grounded. If you don’t know what the Oov is, it is a unique tool that helps me work small muscle groups while turning the bigger ones off. Are you clinching Johnny?? There’s Hali and Kelsey again reminding me that I don’t need to use my bottom and my abs to strengthen the small muscles in my back.
I went SUPing quite a lot this summer and have begun again to hike around in the woods with a renewed confidence that my back surgery is in the past and my continued healing is now and in the future.
Thanks for taking the time to read my story and about my journey to healing with Awake Bodies. Pilates is no Joke…but we sure have a great time!
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